Back in 2007 we decided it was time for Margaret to get a new bike. We weren't riding much but her bike had issues. It was one we had bought used at
Play it Again Sports for I believe $36. It was a fine bike, Margaret did two triathlons on the bike, but it didn't fit her very well and the shifting had a lot to be desired. Our hope was that if we got her something that fit better and was geared better she would ride more. The big debate was on what kind of bike to get her. This old bike of hers had standard road bars, but was setup like a
cyclocross bike with brake levers across the flat part of the bar. She loved this and I can say I never once saw her go down onto the drops. In my mind it seemed then that we should get her a flat bar road bike. I mean we could buy a standard road bike and then add different shifters, but why when I thought we could find her a good flat bar road bike.
There was, however, a problem. I couldn't find a flat bar road bike that was setup like a road bike. Most of the gearing and tire widths I was seeing matched more of a touring bike and this wasn't what I had in mind.
Again
I went back to the idea of the
Surly Pacer and building my own, but decided against it when I remembered the 2005
Bianchi Strada. The beauty of this bike is that it is setup exactly like a road bike, it simply has different shifters and handle bars. After searching around I found a place online that had one her size in stock. They shipped it and I put it together. It is a very pretty bike and though a little heavier than the Brava actually has nicer shifters. It has a suspension seat post which adds some weight but definitely makes for a more comfortable ride. The main thing is Margaret really likes the bike and feels comfortable on it.
I went back to the idea of the Surly Pacer and building my own, but decided against it when I remembered the 2005 Bianchi Strada. The beauty of this bike is that it is setup exactly like a road bike, it simply has different shifters and handle bars. After searching around I found a place online that had one her size in stock. They shipped it and I put it together. It is a very pretty bike and though a little heavier than the Brava actually has nicer shifters. It has a suspension seat post which adds some weight but definitely makes for a more comfortable ride. The main thing is Margaret really likes the bike and feels comfortable on it.
